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2 results

  • Introduction

  • David M. Ricci, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
  • Book:
    Defending Democracy
    Published online:
    13 March 2026
    Print publication:
    26 March 2026, pp 1-7
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  • Summary

    This Introduction notes that 77,000,000 American citizens voted for Donald Trump even though he was a convicted felon and autocratic narcissist. They therefore abandoned the “self-evident truth” principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness inscribed in the Declaration of Independence. That is, they failed to exercise citizenship as a vocation dedicated to good public behavior which supports voting in favor of candidates who will protect and maintain democratic values and institutions. Anticipating further analysis in later chapters, the Introduction ascribes this failure of responsible citizenship to, among other causes, the marketplace for ideas today which is overloaded with information and disinformation, leading to muddled thinking, a scarcity of common sense, and what Neil Postman called a media imperative of “amusing ourselves to death,” or entertainment rather than education.

The Cambridge Companion to the Declaration of Independence
  • Edited by Mark A. Graber, Michael Zuckert
  • Published online:
    18 December 2025
    Print publication:
    22 January 2026
  • The Cambridge Companion to the Declaration of Independence offers a wide-ranging and accessible anthology of essays for understanding the Declaration's intellectual and social context, connection to the American Revolution, and influence in the United States and throughout the world. The volume places the document in the context of ideas during the Enlightenment and examines the language and structure to assess its effect and appeal throughout the centuries and across countries. Here are contributions from law, history, and political science, considering such matters as the philosophical foundations of the Declaration, the role of religion, critics of its role in American political development, and whether 'Jefferson's handiwork' is still relevant in the twenty-first century. Written by distinguished and emerging scholars, the Companion provides new and diverse perspectives on the most important statement of American political commitments.